Wanting to trust him, I decided to follow his request.

I had no idea that this minor change would become the beginning of a much larger unraveling.

Adding another shower to my daily routine was not something I ever expected to do for a relationship.

Yet I began restructuring my days around Jacob’s concern.

My mornings started earlier so I could shower before work. I became more careful about choosing clothes, hoping everything about my appearance would meet his approval.

In the evenings, I showered again.

What had once been a refreshing routine became a stressful obligation.

I bought different body washes, deodorants, powders, and scented products, searching for anything that might remove the odor Jacob claimed to notice.

Even though I was doing everything he asked, I became increasingly self-conscious.

I constantly wondered whether I smelled strange, whether other people noticed, and whether Jacob was silently judging me.